Hi, I need your expertise a little here 
Instead of setting up a regular hat rack in the spot designated for this in our new condominium, I am thinking of installing a shelf made of 18 mm white chipboard, and in the underside of this shelf, screwing a 25 mm chromed steel tube with four tube holders as a clothes rod.
The idea is to make use of as much storage space as possible. Both by maximizing the width of the clothes rod and height with a substantial shelf. The space where the shelf is to be fitted is about 101.5 cm wide between a wardrobe and a gypsum wall. The plan is to skip shelf brackets and instead support the 40 cm deep shelf using wooden strips or similar, attached to the wardrobe on the left, the back wall, and the right wall. The side of the wardrobe is made of classic 16 mm white chipboard, and the walls are made of gypsum with studs behind them.
What I'm worried about is:
1. That the shelf won't withstand the load of the storage on top and from the clothes rod, and will therefore "sink" in the middle over time.
2. That the steel tube's mounting in the shelf won't handle enough coats and will collapse. That is, that chipboard isn't enough to securely fasten the clothes rod.
What do you think?
Is it madness to try this with a chipboard shelf? Is MDF or a solid wood shelf a better choice? (The reason I want to go with chipboard is because most pre-lacquered shelves seem to be made of that material. Easy to get hold of, and I don't have to paint. It will also be hard to match the same finish as the wardrobe if painting is involved.)
What type of wood should I use to support the shelf (preferably already pre-lacquered in white like the shelf)? Can skirting boards be used? Like:
https://www.beijerbygg.se/privat/sv...lningslister/salningslist-furu-19x27mm-helvit
Perhaps too weak to support the shelf and clothes rod? Do I need to rethink and use brackets?
Will a chipboard shelf hold for a clothes rod with a bunch of heavy winter coats? This is the rod:
https://www.fredells.com/farg-inred...ingssystem/dp-ror2200krom25x1000mm--001680296
And they are intended to be attached with 2x2 of these respective tube fittings:
https://www.fredells.com/farg-inred...orhallare759s-25krom2stsb-759s-252p-001680317
https://www.fredells.com/farg-inred...ssystem/rorhallare759o-25krom2st-sb-001680315
Grateful for all the help I can get here!
Instead of setting up a regular hat rack in the spot designated for this in our new condominium, I am thinking of installing a shelf made of 18 mm white chipboard, and in the underside of this shelf, screwing a 25 mm chromed steel tube with four tube holders as a clothes rod.
The idea is to make use of as much storage space as possible. Both by maximizing the width of the clothes rod and height with a substantial shelf. The space where the shelf is to be fitted is about 101.5 cm wide between a wardrobe and a gypsum wall. The plan is to skip shelf brackets and instead support the 40 cm deep shelf using wooden strips or similar, attached to the wardrobe on the left, the back wall, and the right wall. The side of the wardrobe is made of classic 16 mm white chipboard, and the walls are made of gypsum with studs behind them.
What I'm worried about is:
1. That the shelf won't withstand the load of the storage on top and from the clothes rod, and will therefore "sink" in the middle over time.
2. That the steel tube's mounting in the shelf won't handle enough coats and will collapse. That is, that chipboard isn't enough to securely fasten the clothes rod.
What do you think?
Is it madness to try this with a chipboard shelf? Is MDF or a solid wood shelf a better choice? (The reason I want to go with chipboard is because most pre-lacquered shelves seem to be made of that material. Easy to get hold of, and I don't have to paint. It will also be hard to match the same finish as the wardrobe if painting is involved.)
What type of wood should I use to support the shelf (preferably already pre-lacquered in white like the shelf)? Can skirting boards be used? Like:
https://www.beijerbygg.se/privat/sv...lningslister/salningslist-furu-19x27mm-helvit
Perhaps too weak to support the shelf and clothes rod? Do I need to rethink and use brackets?
Will a chipboard shelf hold for a clothes rod with a bunch of heavy winter coats? This is the rod:
https://www.fredells.com/farg-inred...ingssystem/dp-ror2200krom25x1000mm--001680296
And they are intended to be attached with 2x2 of these respective tube fittings:
https://www.fredells.com/farg-inred...orhallare759s-25krom2stsb-759s-252p-001680317
https://www.fredells.com/farg-inred...ssystem/rorhallare759o-25krom2st-sb-001680315
Grateful for all the help I can get here!
Bookshelves, where the shelves are made of particleboard, tend to sag in the middle if they are wider than 80 cm, and even at that width if they are loaded with really heavy books like encyclopedias.
Best answer
18 mm particle board is far too weak for that width and also not suitable for wardrobe rail fittings that are screwed from underneath (unless you use through bolts and nuts). Use a glued laminated board that you paint white instead. The trim strip will probably work with enough long screws. Also, place an open pipe holder for the rod in the middle.
Thanks for the help! I will buy 27 mm thick laminated pine boards instead, as well as planed pine for the support strips. That should be thick enough to make it hold.
Does anyone have tips on white paint for a nice and durable surface?
It was perhaps a bit difficult to see that there were two links at the bottom, but the plan is to install two end tube holders and two central tube holders, so that the bar has four attachment points.
Does anyone have tips on white paint for a nice and durable surface?
It was perhaps a bit difficult to see that there were two links at the bottom, but the plan is to install two end tube holders and two central tube holders, so that the bar has four attachment points.
Alcros Servalac or Jotun is a good and durable woodwork paint that provides a nice finish. Use a good primer or knotting varnish to avoid bleed-through from the glue joint (unless you buy a prime sort without knots, that is).
Here's how the result turned out!
Bauhaus cut the shelf from 27mm spruce. Used the leftovers as supports. Painted with two coats of knot sealer and three coats of carpentry paint from Jula, which I was very pleased with. No knots are visible and the surface is extremely durable. Screwed down securely, and I chose to use only two rod holders for the clothing rod since it felt extremely stable as they were attached to solid wood.
Thanks for the help!
